The Portland daily press., 1887-02-22
AMONG THE INSANE.

ants He says that now he can repeat all Of
Bakers dramas from beginning 70 end.
These plays are enjoyed very much by the
patients; and so are the concerts, az Wnlcn
the military band from Iogus sometimes
takes part or well known singers from Au-
gusta or other cities. But above concerts or
dramas the inhabitants OF the hospital de,
light in one other form Of entertainment, and
THAT is A DANCE.
These dances are great events even Tor peo-
pie from the city. During the sessions ofthe
Legislature they are also considered great
events bv the LEGISLATORS, some of whom are
sure to be present. The rule is that an at
tendant shall dance with patient, while the
visitors may dance with whom they please.
1t is quite often impossible to tell,
as the movements of the dance go on
who are the insane and VINO are not; all
appear to enjoy it with equal zest. Were it
not for certain features dance at the hos
pital would differ little from one in Granite
Hall. These features are the performances
of one or two perfectly harmless patients,
whom the music excltes 70 strange
prompted, during grand march, or during
any dance that leaves the centre OF the floor
clear, to turn handsprings, or cart wheels"
or indulge in
GRoTESQUE SUPPLIES
in that open space. Two years ago he used
to lend wild effect to the assemblies: when
seen one evening this winter he appeared to
have grown more sedate, but still considered
the open floor his own field Of enjoyment
There is another, a woman, who sits in one
of the farthest corners. She does not dance,
but when the music grows livelest draws
herself up like an automaton and keeps
time with energetic but ludicrously method
ical brandisheS of her fists. Still another
woman keeps time to the fastest and most
furious music by talking to the visitors ON
every conceivable subject She has repu-
tation for talking that would be an abiding
terror to the Stenographers were she Sena-
tor or Representative.
The effects of these entertainments on the
health and spirits of the patients is said to
most satisfactory. They look forward to
them, and enjoy themselves in the recollec-
part of the good which results in final recov-
cry in many cases. Last year sixty-six pa
tients
LEFT THE INSTITUTION RECOVERED,
after periods of treatment ranging from
three months to three years. And many
who do not entirely recover leave much i'm
proved.
The visitor who talks with the patients at
one Of these winter entertainments will no
tice that they always speak of each other
as 'boarders," and they are boarders. Last
year seventy boarded entirely at the expense
of the State; for four hundred and nine the
State paid $1.50 week each, towns or rela-
tives paying the rest while 40 were support
ed entirely by their own means or by rela-
tlyes. And some OF these private patients
i've IN l. great style They pay as high as
and everything Is done for their comfort that
could be done at home. Some of them have
SUITES OF ROOMS,
in the new building which has been built quite
recently, rooms furnished comfortably, al
most elegantly. A parlor grand piano has
just been put into the middle convalescent
ward on the woman's side; and there
parts of the hospital. There is in this part
Of the hospital one old lady who came there
thirty years ago. Last year a woman died
who had been there, year in and year out
since 1874.
In years to come the number of these
'bOarders" will increase. Now they num-
Der but a fraction of the unfortunate people
in this State who are classed as insane" or
',imbecile." Scattered through the State, in
the poor houses or kept at homes, there are,
as Senator Sleeper showed the Senate while
arguing for liberal appropriation for the
hospital, fully three thousand insane or i'm
beetle persons. Each year they come to the
hospital in greater numbers, for better care
ana treatment 1t was but few weeks ago
that mere boy was brought in from coun
try po0rhouse,
HIS FEET FROZEN
so badly by exposure and neglect in that in
hospitable place that parts of them had to
be amputated. Another patient has recently
come to the hospital from home where he
has actually been chained in his room for
long term of years. Ultimately, probably,
i'm Maine as in Connecticut and other Statee
a law or custom will decree that all insane
and imbecile persons shall go to Augusta or
to sister institution in some other part of
the State.